Friday, June 29, 2012

The Naja Northern Hills Shrine Circus returns to Deadwood Saturday for two performances at the Days of '76 Rodeo Grounds. Pioneer photo by Mark Watson

By Jaci Conrad Pearson Black Hills Pioneer

DEADWOOD — The Naja Northern Hills Shrine Circus will call Deadwood's Days of '76 Rodeo Grounds its circus stomping grounds Saturday. Two shows, complete with a Main Street kick-off parade, comprise just part of what will happen in and out of the Jordan World Circus show ring.

The second biggest fundraiser of the year for the Naja Shriners, circus co-chair Jeff Schroeder said the Shrine Circus helps raise funds for transportation costs for sick children traveling back and forth to Shriners Hospitals.

“There are over 420 children in western South Dakota who are patients at the Minnesota Shriners Hospital and others in the Shriners Hospital system,” Schroeder explained. “The circus helps fund all activities it takes to get these patients back and forth to Shriners Hospitals free of charge. It is held to pay for the expenses to run the Naja Shrine. It supports the Shrine, in order for us to do our work. The money doesn't go directly to the hospital. It helps us do our job to get kids to the hospitals.”

Two-year-old Ella Kaye Wagner lives
with a condition called arthrogryposis multiplex congenita, which causes the
joints in her arms and legs to be locked into position. But she doesn't let
that stop her.

She's a budding musician, just like her daddy. She loves to bang out tunes on
her play piano and demonstrate her talent with the toy guitar.

When meeting someone for the first time, she pretends to be shy. But she soon
breaks free of her shell and flashes disarmingly sweet smiles.

“She's a big ball of energy,” said 24-year-old Dave Wagner of his daughter.

Ella Kaye constantly follows her dad around the house, helping him clean. She
can't walk, but she's a great scooter. The toddler doesn't seem to believe
there's anything she can't do.

“She's very independent. She wants to do things on her own, but she can't do
everything. She gets frustrated when she wants to do something but needs help,”
said her 22-year-old mom, Audrianna McMillen.

The little girl is also very smart, with a surprising vocabulary. She talks in
sentences, can count to 10, knows her colors and can say the alphabet with her
parents. She also loves to “read” books.

“She's the greatest gift from God. She is truly amazing,” McMillen said.

The proud mom tells her friends that Ella Kaye is not disabled. “She is
different-abled. Disabled implies she can't do some things. She can do
everything, but differently.”

There was a time when Wagner and McMillen didn't know whether their baby girl
would survive. Testing during McMillen's pregnancy revealed that the baby's
intestines were growing outside her body and that she had club feet, hand
malformations and a possibly enlarged heart.

Wagner and McMillen were told the baby might not survive the pregnancy. At 24
weeks, she was told to consider an abortion.

“I said no. I felt it would be murder, especially so far along,” McMillen
recalled.

Doctors monitored the baby's development with weekly ultrasounds and heart
monitoring. They later learned the baby's heart was fine.

At 36 weeks, McMillen delivered Ella Kaye via a caesarean on Dec. 20, 2009, in
Phoenix. Seeing her newly born baby with her intestines outside her body “was a
complete shock.”

At her birth, doctors didn't have a name for Ella Kaye's condition. “It is so
rare we had never heard of it before she was born. Even the physical
therapists, doctors and nurses had never heard of it,” McMillen said.

Ella Kaye underwent her first surgery at 4 days old to repair her intestines
and spent a month in the hospital. After further testing, they learned the baby
girl had arthrogryposis multiplex congenita. A specialist immediately
recognized some of the signs, such as the “angel kisses” — red markings on her
face that are now faded but come out when upset — and fixed joints and tendons
in her arms, hands and legs.

“Her muscles and joints did not develop. No one knows why, it's not genetic.
There's speculation it could be due to maternal superheating during pregnancy.
We're both from Minnesota and we moved to Yuma (to be closer to family) when
the weather was 115 degrees,” McMillen said.

“With superheating, the uterus doesn't grow like it's supposed to, so her
joints didn't develop as she had no room to develop. And connective tissue
grows on them.”

In her 2-1/2 years, Ella Kaye has had five surgeries and countless therapy
sessions, which released one elbow and now she can bend her arm. She's recently
discovered that she can bring her hand to her mouth, something that most babies
discover early on.

The little girl used casts for a while, but now she has very fashionable
pink-and-animal-print braces that keep her feet in the flex position,
stretching them out.

Since each case is unique, only time will tell how much she'll be able to do.
However, McMillen, a caregiver for the elderly and a full-time health-care
administration student, and Wagner, a construction worker and musician but
currently staying at home until Ella Kaye starts school, are hoping to give her
all possible opportunities.

“I just want for her to be happy and that she doesn't have sadness with her
condition when she's older,” Wagner said. “I don't know what I will say when
she asks, Why am I different?”

McMillen points out that with her personality, Ella Kaye won't let anything
hold her back. But she is afraid children will make fun of her daughter when
she starts regular school. In the meantime, her daughter will start a preschool
with other special needs kids in January.

In the immediate future, the young family has to deal with other challenges
involving Ella Kaye's care, such as reliable transportation to the Shriners
Hospital for Children in Los Angeles.

The last time they took Ella Kaye for a treatment, their car broke down on the
highway and the normally six-hour trip took 12. They're trying to save enough
money to replace or fix the car, but like a lot of families, they live check to
check.

Since family and friends have expressed an interest in donating to their cause,
Wagner's sister set up a PayPal account at www.ellasworld.me, which follows Ella Kaye's
journey. Family members also opened up an account for donations at Wells Fargo
(Account No. 6685867050).

The good news is that when Ella Kaye was 1-1/2 years old, the local Shriners
took an interest in helping her. They have paid for surgeries, splints and visits
to the Shriners Hospital in L.A.

The tot still has more surgeries waiting for her. Her parents want to do as
much as they can when she's young. However, they are reserving some surgeries
for when she's older so she can decide how much she wants corrected.

For example, her dislocated hip can be fixed with surgery but it might cause
other problems. The same with her wrists. Surgeons could take some bone out to
straighten them, but will she want that?

“We don't want to make that decision for her,” McMillen said.

In the meantime, her parents do daily therapy with their daughter, helping her
straighten and bend her arm so it won't become fixed again.

“It's been a long journey with her, but it's been an amazing one. We still have
a long way to go, though,” McMillen said.

Mara Knaub can be reached at mknaub@yumasun.com or 539-6856. Find her
on Facebook at Facebook.com/YSMaraKnaub or on Twitter at @YSMaraKnaub.

Shriners Hospital patients put their visions of music on paper.MORE THAN 20 DRAWINGS, paintings and collages by young artists from Shriners Hospitals for Children® – Northern California will be on display at the Crocker Art Museum this summer. See the Music, Hear the Art is the title of the exhibit inspired by the Sacramento Philharmonic and
open to the public July 3 – August 26 at the Crocker, located at 216 O Street in downtown Sacramento.

The works by Shriners Hospital patients were inspired by Julian Dixon, Director of Education and Community Engagement for the Sacramento Philharmonic Orchestra, who led art workshops in the Shriners Hospital School earlier this year.

The children attending school at the hospital created artwork in various mediums while Dixon played his tuba and shared his vision of the music with the children. “The schoolroom came to life when Julian visited,” said Margaret Kugler, coordinator of the school program at the Northern California Shriners
Hospital.

“Children who come to Shriners Hospital attend our on-site school as part of their daily routine. While it is important that they keep up with core curriculum, it also is important for them to learn to engage in new experiences,” said Kugler. “Julian’s workshops were true exercises in creativity as the children worked to put their visions of the music on paper. Those who attend the exhibit will see imagination at work,” she added.

The purpose of the Sacramento Philharmonic’s See the Music, Hear the Art program is to enable children in hospitals, transitional housing and shelters to create art inspired by listening to great works of music. Shriners Hospitals for Children – Northern California was one of four sites participating in the 2012 program. Other See the Music, Hear the Art participants included Loaves & Fishes’ Mustard Seed School, Sacramento Area Emergency Housing Center Mather Community Campus, and Women Escaping a Violent Environment (WEAVE). Artistic interpretations by children at each of the participating organizations are included in the special exhibit at the Crocker Art Museum.

To learn more about how you can join Shriners Hospitals for Children – Northern California in building a caring community, please call the Public & Community Relations Office at 916-453-2018 or send email to ncal.info@shrinenet.org.

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Meet the East/West Shrine Game All-stars High School Players
Friday, July 20, 1-4pm at Memorial Stadium
This is your night to meet and greet the players, coaches and cheerleaders.
It is time for pictures and interviews. The public is welcome.
Many volunteers and event organizers will also be present.

Friday July 20th

VIP HOSPITALITY RECEPTION

Held in the Civic Center Upper 2nd Floor South Balcony between 4:30-5:30pm to recognize and honor our generous Montana East/West Shrine Game sponsors and donors. By Invitation Only.

Friday July 20th

PLAYER & CHEERLEADER RECOGNITION BANQUET

This banquet at the Mansfield Center Convention Hall allows us to introduce the players publicly. After dinner, there is a signature football auction. These footballs are signed by the coaches and players and sell between $500-$1,000. Most people combine their dollars to buy one of these footballs for their community player. Banquet tickets are available online at the Mansfield Box Office. Banquet tickets $25/person.

Cocktail Hour - 5:00-6:00pm

Banquet - 6:30pm

Player Introductions - 7:30pm

Signature Football Auction - 8:00pm

Saturday July 21st

MINI CHEERLEADERS CAMP

The Montana East West Shrine Game All Star Cheerleaders will hold a “Mini Cheer Camp” for kids ages 3yrs and up at the Townhouse Inn located at 1411 10th Ave South, Great Falls, MT on July 21st at 9:00 a.m. Cost is $15.00. No need to pre-register, just sign up when you come.

Campers will receive a set of pom-poms and a t-shirt. Campers will learn cheers, jumps, kicks, a dance, and a whole lot more fun stuff. They will be invited to ride a float in the Shrine Parade on Saturday morning in downtown Great Falls at 11:00. All proceeds from camp will go to the Shriners Hospitals. For questions about camp, please call Julie Shepherd @ 590-2734.

Saturday July 21st

PARADE

There is a parade in downtown Great Falls with Shrine and Civic units from across Montana. The Parade begins at 11:00am. It will start at Central Ave and 8th Street So. and end at the Mansfield Center.

Parade line up -10:30am

Parade begins -11:00am

Saturday July 21st

Family Style Tailgating Party

Tailgating BBQ - BBQ and soft drinks will be served at Memorial Stadium 1 – 5pm by the Cascade County Tavern Association and help for the Red Horse Squadron. There will also be a classic car and motorcycle show. Bring the whole family for an afternoon of fun and photos. This event is on a donation offering and all profits will support the Spokane Shrine Hospital for Children.

MONTANA EAST/WEST SHRINE ALL-STARS FOOTBALL GAME

The game will be played in Memorial Stadium. Gates open at 5:00pm and the pre-game show begins at 6:30pm. Kick off is at 7:00 pm sharp. Game tickets are for sale online at the Mansfield Box Office Reserved seating $10-$20 General admission $5.

For over half a century, Montana Shriners have labored diligently to produce this most prestigious high school all-star football game each July to put Montana's high school best on display for the football public while at the same time raising money in support of Shriners Hospitals for Children.

This Year, be a Part of Montana's East-West Shrine Game

When we consider the cost to operate the 22 Shriners Hospitals (19 orthopedic and 3 burn institutes) will be over $726,000,000 in 2012, an amount which comes to more than 2 million per day, we can more than fully appreciate why Shriners continue to sponsor all-star football games, golf activities, and other events to raise money for this most worth of all causes - "The Greatest Philanthropy on Earth." Be assured that your continued support of our hospitals and attendance at the game is genuinely appreciated by the Shriners, the players, and most especially, our "kids" in the hospitals!

The Montana Shrine Bowl is the oldest continuous single-state sponsored Shrine High School All-Star Game in North America. It is played in support of Shriners Hospitals for Children, which are open to all children through the age of 18 regardless of race, creed or color.

This game has raised over $1,000,000 for the Shrine Hospital in Spokane, Washington.

Over the past 65 years, nearly 3,300 of Montana's finest athletes have played in the game. Some have gone on to star on college and a few have played in the Shrine College Senior All-Star East-West Classic in San Francisco, Palo Alto, Houston, Orland and Tampa - and pro ball as well.

Friday, June 15, 2012

HAINES — The contestant book for the Fourth of July Haines Stampede Rodeo opens
at 7 a.m. on June 16 and will remain open through 7 p.m. on June 30.

Contestants wishing to
enter roping or rough stock or the many regular rodeo events may call (541)
403-1143. Many of the events are open to young cowboys and cowgirls including
mutton busting for any willing riders 60 pounds and lighter.

Events begin at the
rodeo grounds at 45833 Old Highway 30, Haines, at 5:30 p.m. on Monday July 2
with the second annual Shriners Hospital Benefit Team Roping.

Open roping is three
for $25, with a No. 7 draw of four for $25. Entries will be handicapped over
and under. A $10 stock charge is in effect for all ropers and 40 percent of the
proceeds will be donated to the Shriners Hospital, with another forty percent
awarded to the high scoring ropers.

For more information
call Martin Arritola at (541) 910-9019 or Howdy McGinn at (541) 962-5852.

The 11th annual
Haines Stampede Rodeo starts with a 9 a.m. slack time on Tuesday, July 3 and
rodeo at 5:30 p.m. On the Fourth, rodeo begins at 1:30 p.m.

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Estacada’s Lisa Brookshier is just clowning around

This year's Rose Festival will feature Estacada's Lisa Brookshier in her first year as a clown.

TIFFANY KILPATRICK / CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

With the Portland Rose Festival upon us, Estacada’s Lisa
Brookshier may seem a bit unrecognizable to some friends and family.

That’s because Brookshier has traded in her usual volunteer work
for the chance to clown around.

Growing up around her Uncle Randol, who has been a clown for
Shriners Children’s Hospitals for 30 years, Lisa decided it was time to let her
"clown" out.

“I saw the news story about the Rose Festival Clown Corps and
knew it was for me,” she said. “Most of my volunteer work uses my business
management and leadership skills, which is very fulfilling, but I knew it was
time for a change, and I knew clowning was going to be fun.”

It's the three-ring Rose Festival, where participants keep their day jobs while living out the age-old fantasy of running away to join the circus.

The Rose Festival Character Clown Corps, presented by Amtrak Cascades, has quickly become one of the festival's favorite features. Bringing a special brand of love and laughter to the Spirit Mountain Casino Grand Floral Parade as well as other event appearances, these ordinary-folks-turned-extraordinary-entertainers reflect both the historic traditions of clowning and the contemporary culture of the region.

Named one of the best educational programs in the world for festivals and events during its inaugural year in 2008, this year's edition of the Character Clown Corps will add 16 new colorful personalities to the group, ranging in age from 14 to 65.The Rose Festival Character Clown Corps, presented by Amtrak Cascades, has quickly become one of the festival's favorite features. Bringing a special brand of love and laughter to the Spirit Mountain Casino Grand Floral Parade as well as other event appearances, these ordinary-folks-turned-extraordinary-entertainers reflect both the historic traditions of clowning and the contemporary culture of the region.

They represent a wide range of backgrounds, including a sculptor, a mortgage banker, an actor and playwright, and a past rodeo princess. In fact, it’s Brookshier who is the rodeo princess from La Pine.

Monday, June 4, 2012

Sigma Fitness Challenge to benefit Shriners Hospital

Members of the National Pan-Hellenic Council and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. at UC Davis will host their first “Sigma Fitness Challenge for Shiners Hospital” on Sunday.

The event, which is open to the public, will run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Russell Field on the UCD campus.

The first of what is planned to be an annual event will consist of five-person teams navigating an eight-station obstacle course filled with both physical and mental challenges. The team that completes the obstacle course fastest will be declared the winner.

A portion of the proceeds from the event will be donated to Shriners Hospital, a nationally renowned medical center known for providing the highest quality care to children with a multitude of life-threatening illnesses and injuries.

“As a member of the UC Davis football team, we have had the opportunity to visit the hospital each year to uplift the spirits of the children receiving medical care at Shriners,” said Kevyn Lewis, president of the National Pan-Hellenic Council and also a member of the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity at UCD, in a news release.

“I feel as an active member of a fraternity, that it is very important to find ways to give back to the community. This event will not only provide a physical and mental challenge to those who participate, but will help support Shriners Hospital.”

The cost to participate is $25 for each team of five. Advance registration is encouraged but registration also will be accepted on the day of the event.

For more information, or to pre-register a team, call Lewis at (916) 205-4944 or email him at kevlewis@ucdavis.edu.

Friday, June 1, 2012

Kemmerer’s Ethan Archibald heading to Shrine Bowl

Ethan Archibald (right) stands beside coach Shawn Rogers (left). Archibald has been selected to play in the Shrine Bowl in Casper on June 9. Gazette photo/Ben Bannister

KEMMERER — Graduation isn’t the only reason Kemmerer High School senior Ethan Archibald is excited. Archibald has been selected to represent Kemmerer in the Shrine Bowl at Natrona County High School in Casper on June 9.

“I was pretty excited,” Archibald recalled. “I felt like all my hard work in high school football paid off.”

According to Coach Shawn Rogers, 36 players from northern Wyoming and 36 players from southern Wyoming are selected to play in this all-star game.

“That includes all classifications,” Rogers told the Gazette, “six man all the way through four A.”

The week’s events begin on June 2.

“I’m going to miss a day because the first day is the day of graduation but I’ll be meeting them the day after in Evanston so we can go to the hospital and meet the kids,” Archibald said

At this time, the bowl players will meet the kids at Shriner’s Hospital and give them gifts.

“Not only is this an elite honor for a football player, but it’s a great opportunity for the kids,” Rogers remarked, “It works out all the way around.”

According to Rogers, the money is raised through ticket sales and ads that are placed in the program at the game.

“Basically, by being selected to do that, Ethan represents Kemmerer and the Shriners ask Kemmerer to help support him and Shriner’s Hospital,” Rogers said.

The Shriners help children with everything from prosthetics to burn rehabilitation.